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Blues lure German-born Anton Segner north for Super Rugby Pacific
Nelson-based German-born flanker Anton Segner will venture north to join the Super Rugby ranks with the Blues.
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The 20-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman champions to continue his remarkable rise in the game after venturing on a school exchange to Nelson College in 2017.
Segner, a 1.92m, 108kg loose forward, captained Nelson College to an historic regional collegiate victory, captained the Crusaders under-20 and was named in the New Zealand Schools and Under-20 teams. He joined the Tasman Mako in 2020.
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald, who came across Segner in his final year as coach of the Mako, said he has all the attributes to make a success of his rugby career.
“I was impressed with him as a schoolboy and have followed him since. Not only does he have all the physical attributes and skillset, he has an outstanding work ethic,” said MacDonald.
“Anton is a young leader on and off the field and will be an excellent addition to the group of young talent at the Blues. These young guys have played together at higher honours and will be the future of our club.”
The young loose forward from Frankfurt said he is still pinching himself with the opportunity to join the Blues.
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“You don’t get too many Germans coming here to take up rugby. I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities ahead of me but also the ones I have been blessed with so far. It has all seemed pretty surreal to me,” said Segner.
Segner said that while he calls Nelson his home away from home, he is very much at ease in bigger cities, having grown up in Frankfurt.
“I am excited with the opportunity of living back in a big city and everything that it has to offer. I am looking forward to that.”
"I’ve been lucky enough to have two trips to the States for rugby, and I’ll rate them up there with the best I’ve experienced."
Experienced commentator Tony Johnson highlights the importance of the All Blacks' trip to USA. #AllBlacks #USAvNZLhttps://t.co/nyA0R7St3E
— RugbyPass+ (@RugbyPassPlus) October 27, 2021
He was attracted by the Blues development, their quality loose forwards and the overall challenge.
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“Especially over the past couple of years, I was attracted by the track record the Blues have had and obviously now they are the reigning Super Rugby Trans-Tasman champions.
“There’s a massive opportunity not just to play but to learn from other players as well. The Blues have three All Black loose forwards and I will be definitely looking to learn from them and develop off them.
“To be honest, ever since going to school, I have been in and around the Crusaders environment. When the Blues opportunity came up, I was attracted to do something different, to challenge myself in another environment, and embrace that challenge.”
He spoke to some of his fellow New Zealand age group players who moved to Auckland to play for the Blues and they endorsed the environment at the club and the city. He was also attracted to play under MacDonald’s coaching group.
“Mum, dad and both my brothers are back in Germany but I talk to them just about every day and keep them up to date with what is happening over here. They are extremely happy for me and extremely proud of me. And when Jacinda allows, they look forward to coming over to watch me play for the Blues.”
– Blues Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
6 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
6 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments